In 2017, Indy Yelich watched Billie Eilish perform at the intimate Baby’s All Right venue in Williamsburg. This summer, she returned there for the album listening party of her older sister, Ella — better known as Lorde. Last month, she took that stage herself for her first headlining show, describing it as a “rite of passage” in her rising music career.
Indy released her EP “Fame Is A Bedroom” in August, a continuation of the alternative pop style she began with her first single, “Threads,” in 2022. In the project, she explores adulthood through a failed relationship with an older man and acceptance of fame by association with her sister. Following the release, she has conquered both a solo show and performed as an opening act on Alessia Cara’s “Love & Hyperbole” North American tour.
“I wanted it to be kind of like pages of my journal and I wanted my voice to shine,” Indy told WSN. “What was most unexpected was how natural it felt.”
Rocking a tour shirt made exclusively for her Baby’s All Right show, which she swore wasn’t intentional, Indy spoke to WSN about navigating her whirlwind year of releasing an EP and performing on such a large scale for the first time.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
WSN: What have you learned about yourself from opening for Cara and performing your solo New York City show?
Indy: It’s not just about singing, but the whole personality. There was a bit less pressure on me when I was an opening act, because people don’t know what to expect. It was interesting seeing the different versions of myself while performing. A lot of it was telling funny stories and asking the crowd questions.
WSN: How did performing a solo show differ from being an opening act?
Indy: It definitely didn’t feel easier. There’s a lot more work that went into the solo show. You have to get all glammed up and have a full band. Also, you can’t really hear anything with the in-ear monitors. Still, you have fans coming to see just you. I think at that moment, I felt the most like me.
WSN: Your music feels equally inspired by your time in New York as it does by your homeland and family in New Zealand. How has your relationship with these places and dynamics changed as you’ve begun releasing music and touring?
Indy: I think that touring has helped me to take certain topics I sing about, like my family, take a back seat. I wrote a song, ‘Idol,’ which was very personal to me, and put it to bed initially. Now that I’ve started performing, that feeling has changed because you’re up on stage to do a job. It’s not about family history; it’s about you, your work and voice. At Baby’s, everyone had their light flashing during the song and it was beautiful. The touring part has been really cathartic in general. I just think my identity has changed a lot since I started performing.
WSN: Which artists and pop culture phenomena inspire you?
Indy: I love finding new artists on TikTok. Lately, I’ve been into Rachel Chinouriri, Erin LeCount and Hannah Jagadu. I’ve also been going back to a lot of 2000s music recently, like older Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. I would say I’m just very tapped into pop culture. I love finding cool song placements in TV and film, like Alessia’s song in ‘Nobody Wants This.’ I’m also really into the idea of a song gaining virality years after its release, like Kate Bush in ‘Stranger Things.’ It’s all about creating the proper cultural impact.
WSN: Your sister has also been touring throughout the year. Is there anything you’ve picked up from her?
Indy: When I see her performing, I see her as the artist, not just my sister. I see her drive and how fit she is, which has inspired me to be more health-conscious about my voice. One of my favorite things is seeing people respond to her music. She performs in these huge rooms, and I always watch fans taking videos and flashing their camera lights. It’s an incredible show, and it’s different every time.
WSN: Now that you’ve stepped over the hurdle of doing your first solo performances and touring, what’s the next milestone you want to achieve as an artist?
Indy: Festivals. Now that I physically know I can perform, I’m over the fear. I would love to perform at Glastonbury in Europe or Laneway in New Zealand. Yeah, I’d honestly say my goal is to get in the studio for a few months, write a banging record and tour it in big, proper spaces.
Contact Amelia Knust at [email protected]